News

Grant project: Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp

Apr 08, 2014

For more than 80 years, the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp in Oregon has been providing adults and children with disabilities a huge variety of recreational opportunities adapted to their special needs. Last summer, the Kiwanis International Foundation awarded the Kiwanis Club of Portland with a financial grant to support MHKC. Our foundation’s grant was then matched by the Kiwanis Club of Portland Foundation. This substantial support and vested club interest made a tremendous impact—MHKC was able to fund off-site recreational activities and provide opportunities to 153 campers during the summer!

Situated near the majestic Mount Hood, the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp provides adaptive outdoor activities to more than 500 adults and children with disabilities throughout the year. Hiking, fishing, horseback riding, canoeing, cookouts, arts and crafts, dancing, adventure courses, swimming and river rafting—the MHKC does it all. And they do it for everyone! MHKC is a 22-acre campsite and it’s fully accessible for all campers with cognitive, developmental or physical disabilities.

Our foundation’s support allowed the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp to increase their number of campers at off-site programs, provide staff with more in-depth and specific training and, therefore, increase the number of campers who successfully complete a full week in an offsite camp program.

The camp’s off-site activities allow campers who want to further challenge themselves and take more risks, to do so, under counselor supervision. These activities build campers’ confidence, help them realize new strengths and achieve personal goals.

We hope the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp continues to thrive and their campers continue to grow and have the times of their lives!